Leaf in Robert Burns' hand with quotations from Mme de l'Enclos

Leaf in Robert Burns' hand with quotations from Mme de l'Enclos (page 2 of 2)

Introduction:

Mme Ninon de l'Enclos was a French writer of the romantic period whom Burns admired both for her beauty and literary talents. He had taken the trouble to copy some of her motes juste into a notebook for future reference and he makes reference to her in one of his letters to Clarinda. (letter no 191)

Image Rights Holder:

National Trust for Scotland

Ref:

BMT195B

Project:

618:The Burns Manuscripts at Alloway

What:

Leaf in Robert Burns' hand with quotations from Mme de l'Enclos

Subject:

Robert Burns was widely read, using this experience to develop his own talents and was frequently found to copy or manipulate quotations from other writers to illuminate his own letters.

Robert Burns was widely read, using this experience to develop his own talents and was frequently found to copy or manipulate quotations from other writers to illuminate his own letters.

Description:

In this second page Burns has recorded quotations from Mme de l'Enclos in French which Burns from his early schooling was clearly able to translate comfortably and he would on occasion include a French saying in his letters.